Not only size matters Text: Irina Ivanova
What is the difference between a boutique hotel and a regular five-star hotel? Many people think that the smaller, in comparison with the urban five-star "monsters", the number of rooms, with the same level of service. But as they say, not only size matters ...
The first thing we noticed upon arrival at the hotel was the luxurious yellow Aston Martin with Abu Dhabi rooms at the entrance. As we were later explained, it is a common practice among the guests of this hotel to bring their favorite cars with them. Although, new silver Audi with the Le Gray brand logo can be made available to guests.
To get to the hotel lobby, we had to go through scanning and checking hand luggage, like at the airport, which became an ordinary procedure for the entire stay. This is one of the features of luxury boutique hotels - their isolation, based on the safety of guests. As it turned out, such a restriction of access of unauthorized persons from the street is not superfluous - one evening, during dinner, at the next table we were lucky to see the current president of the country, accompanied by security. Well, how can you not believe in the exclusivity of the hotel? Representatives of the authorities and the business elite, popular artists and show business stars choose a small luxury hotel precisely because here you can find solitude and peace, hide from many prying eyes.
And, of course, the boutique should have its own unique design. In this sense, Le Gray is lucky - its owner, Mr. Gordon Gray, who is the founder of the Campbell Gray Hotels hotel chain, is a big fan of art. He personally took part in the design of his new hotel, selecting paintings for the rooms and thinking over the shape of the lighting fixtures.
At Le Gray there is no sensation of the cold luxury that is present in most designer hotels. This islet of stylish Art Nouveau in the historical center of the capital pleases with home comfort and good taste, with its own characteristic "chips". A personal approach is felt in the service, which, combined with oriental hospitality, creates a unique formula of comfort. It is worth trying at least once to stop here to feel the atmosphere of the new Beirut amid its deep history ...
